ORANGE PARK, Fla. – In Orange Park, nestled along the picturesque St. Johns River, lies a venue that has become synonymous with celebrations — Club Continental.
In fact, Tarik Minor and I got married at the venue in October 2009.
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Club Continental is rich in history and to truly appreciate this venue, one must travel back to 1880, when Orange Park was a small farming community and a burgeoning tourist destination.
Even Union General and President Ulysses S. Grant vacationed in the area, which attracted a wealthy family who would eventually build Club Continental and raise their family in the mansion.
The Winterbourne house was rented by B.J. Johnson, founder of the Palmolive soap company, from 1880 to 1885. It was the precursor to Club Continental. At that time, the area was largely undeveloped, with vast stretches of land.
Karrie Massey, B.J. Johnson’s great-great-granddaughter and the last living direct descendant of the property, shared her memories of the grounds.
Although she never lived there, Massey spent her childhood playing on the property.
“Climbing trees, going into the swamp, which is just south of here, that was all swamp land, just enjoying the nature and the freedom,” she recalled.
After the family moved away, Massey’s great-grandmother, also named Karrie, purchased the property and 40 acres of land for less than $90.
Despite the lack of air conditioning, the family thrived in Florida’s warm climate.
“Having grown up here, she always wanted to live here,” Massey said.
The family continued to grow, with Karrie’s brother, Caleb, eventually purchasing 20 acres of the property.
He built what is now Club Continental, originally named Mirorio, in 1923. The house has remained in the family ever since.
The Johnson family was known for their extravagant parties, often competing with the famous DuPonts, who owned a 58-acre estate known as Epping Forest in Northeast Florida.
“My grandmother and great-grandmother, they were always throwing parties. And if Mrs. DuPont threw a big party at Epping, Mrs. Johnson had to throw a big party the next week. So they were definitely competitors,” Massey shared.
For over 100 years, the tradition of hosting grand events has continued at Club Continental.
It remains a members-only club, event venue, and hotel, where many have shared beautiful memories.
“Yeah, it’s really fun. We sometimes have people show up and say, ‘Oh, I got married here 40 years ago,’ stuff like that. It’s really sort of fun,” Massey said.
Despite the challenges of maintaining two homes that are centuries old, Massey is committed to preserving the family’s legacy and keeping the property in the family.